Murray State
Indiana
Kirksey's ninth-inning home run pushes 'Breds past Indiana 2-1
2/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Junior first baseman Geoff Kirksey sent a 1-1 pitch over the fence in right-center field for the game-winning run against Indiana in the Service Academy Classic in Millington, Tenn., but the 'Breds' success came from its defense.
Murray State pitchers Craig Kraus and Jon Ross Shelton struck out 12 Hoosiers and walked only one over the nine-inning game and stranded nine IU runners.
The win was Murray State head coach Rob McDonald's first as an NCAA Division I head coach.
Murray State (1-3) got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning when third baseman James Akin beat out an infield single, then went to second on a throwing error. Designated hitter Seth Hudson moved Akin to third on a sacrifice bunt, and Akin scored on a sacrifice fly from right fielder Scotty Scott to put MSU ahead 1-0.
Indiana tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when Corby Heckman hit a two-out single, then scored on a double by Joe Kemp to knot the game at 1-1.
Indiana (1-4) left runners on second and third in the seventh inning and one on second in the eighth, while Murray State went 1-2-3 in the seventh and eighth innings.
In the top of the ninth, it was Kirksey's two-out homer that put the 'Breds ahead 2-1, but Indiana would threaten in the bottom half of the inning.
Kevin Mahar hit a one-out single, and David Hughes reached base on a throwing error. Shelton (1-1) struck out the next two batters to get the decision in MSU's first win of the season.
Besides Kirksey's home run, Murray State had hits from Akin, second baseman Derrick Newton and left fielder Clint Griggs.
IU was led by Heckman, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
On the mound, Shelton got the win, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out four and walking none in two innings. Kraus started for MSU, allowing one run on five hits, striking out eight and walking one in seven innings.
Adam Pegg (0-1) took the loss for Indiana, allowing one run on one hit, striking out two and walking none in two innings. Josh Lewis started for the Hoosiers, allowing one unearned run on three hits, striking out four and walking one in seven innings.
"We played really good defense," McDonald said. "Derrick Newton made two outstanding plays that were as good as you will ever see. Indiana had the lead run on second base, and they hit it up the middle, but Newton back-handed it and threw the guy out to end the eighth inning.
"Kraus pitched very, very well. He threw strikes, but kept their hitters off-balance. Shelton came in and finished the game for us. A lot of people contributed today. Our kids competed very well.
"This was very much like our last game at Birmingham," McDonald said. "In that one, we played well and just couldn't get it. Today, we played well, and we got the win. This was a very good win for our program."
Murray State continues in the Service Academy Classic tomorrow (Saturday) at 4 p.m. against Memphis.
